fanatic
gb/fənˈætɪk/ us/fənˈætɪk/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
role
1
person extremely enthusiastic about something
Someone who likes something very, very much.
Usage pattern:
a fanatic for [something]
Common mistake:
Learners may use fanatic as a neutral synonym of fan; fanatic often sounds stronger and can be slightly negative.
Synonyms
superfan (Very enthusiastic supporter, often positive and informal.)
|
enthusiast (More neutral and less extreme.)
|
devotee (Suggests strong dedication; often formal.)
Antonyms
casual (Not deeply interested or committed.)
|
nonfan (Not a supporter or admirer.)
Collocations
a sports fanatic
|a football fanatic
|a movie fanatic
|a music fanatic
|a fitness fanatic
|a technology fanatic
|a devoted fanatic
|a true fanatic
|a fanatic for [something]
|a bit of a fanatic
Themes
people
|sports
|hobbies
|media_entertainment
Examples
- He’s a baseball fanatic and rarely misses a game.
- My sister is a coffee fanatic who owns three different grinders.
- The store is a paradise for camera fanatics.
Learner examples
- She is a music fanatic.
- I’m a fanatic for spicy food.
Noun
C1
role
2
person with extreme, intolerant beliefs
Someone who believes something in an extreme way and cannot accept other views.
Usage pattern:
a [religious/political] fanatic
Common mistake:
Don’t use fanatic for ordinary religious or political supporters; it usually suggests intolerance or extremism.
Synonyms
zealot (Emphasizes intense, uncompromising devotion to a cause.)
|
extremist (Focuses on extreme political or ideological positions; less about emotion.)
|
radical (Can be neutral in some contexts; less inherently condemning than fanatic.)
Antonyms
moderate (Holds less extreme, more balanced views.)
|
tolerant (Accepts different beliefs and practices.)
Collocations
a religious fanatic
|a political fanatic
|an extremist fanatic
|a fanatic group
|fanatic beliefs
|fanatic followers
|fanatics and extremists
|violent fanatics
|dangerous fanatics
|fanatic ideology
Themes
society
|politics
|religion
|conflict
Examples
- The article warned about a small group of fanatics who wanted to silence dissent.
- He dismissed them as political fanatics unwilling to compromise.
- The community condemned the attack carried out by religious fanatics.
Learner examples
- A fanatic will not listen to other opinions.
adjective
C1
property
3
extremely enthusiastic or obsessive
Liking something extremely and thinking about it a lot.
Usage pattern:
fanatic about [something]
Common mistake:
Fanatic is stronger than interested or keen; it can sound critical if used about another person.
Synonyms
obsessive (Highlights unhealthy fixation more than enthusiasm.)
|
fervent (Strong, sincere feeling; often more positive and formal.)
|
die-hard (Very loyal supporter; usually informal and often positive.)
Antonyms
unenthusiastic (Shows little interest or excitement.)
|
indifferent (Does not care one way or the other.)
Collocations
fanatic about [something]
|fanatic interest
|fanatic devotion
|fanatic fans
|fanatic dedication
|fanatic collector
|fanatic attention to detail
|almost fanatic
|truly fanatic
|fanatic support
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|hobbies
Examples
- She’s fanatic about keeping her workspace organized.
- The company has a fanatic focus on customer service.
- He’s become almost fanatic in his devotion to the team.
Learner examples
- He is fanatic about fitness.
adjective
C1
property
4
showing extreme, intolerant zeal
So extreme about beliefs that you cannot accept other ideas.
Usage pattern:
fanatic [beliefs/support/behavior]
Common mistake:
Avoid using this for ordinary strong belief; it suggests irrationality or intolerance.
Synonyms
fanatical (More common adjective form; same meaning.)
|
extremist (More political/ideological; less about emotional intensity.)
|
zealous (Can be positive; fanatic is more negative and extreme.)
Antonyms
open-minded (Willing to consider different ideas.)
|
moderate (Not extreme in beliefs or actions.)
Collocations
fanatic beliefs
|fanatic ideology
|fanatic behavior
|fanatic loyalty
|fanatic zeal
|fanatic followers
|fanatic support
|fanatic rhetoric
|fanatic movement
|fanatic intolerance
Themes
society
|politics
|religion
Examples
- The group’s fanatic ideology left no room for debate.
- Fanatic rhetoric made peaceful discussion impossible.
- She criticized the fanatic approach that treated outsiders as enemies.
Learner examples
- Fanatic beliefs can be dangerous.
Grammar
Dictionary form
fanatic
IPA
GB/fənˈætɪk/
US/fənˈætɪk/
Syllables & stress
fan - at - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (at)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: fanatic
Noun
- Base: fanatic
- Plural: fanatics
Word family
Expressions
fitness fanatic
1/fˈɪtnəs fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
person obsessed with exercise
Someone who exercises a lot and cares very much about fitness.
Examples
- She’s a fitness fanatic who works out twice a day.
- Even fitness fanatics take rest days sometimes.
health fanatic
1/hˈɛlθ fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
person overly focused on health
Someone who cares about health in an extreme way.
Examples
- He’s a health fanatic who reads every nutrition label.
- My roommate is a health fanatic and won’t keep soda in the apartment.
music fanatic
1/mjˈuzɪk fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
person obsessed with music
Someone who loves music very much.
Examples
- She’s a music fanatic with thousands of albums.
- Music fanatics traveled from all over to see the band live.
political fanatic
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
political extremist person
Someone with extreme political ideas who will not listen to others.
Examples
- The debate was derailed by a few political fanatics shouting over everyone else.
- She rejected the claim that only political fanatics care about the issue.
religious fanatic
1/ɹɪlˈɪd͡ʒəs fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
religious extremist person
Someone with extreme religious beliefs who cannot accept other views.
Examples
- The documentary examined how a religious fanatic recruited followers.
- He complained about being judged by religious fanatics.
sports fanatic
1/spˈɔɹts fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
person obsessed with sports
Someone who loves sports very much.
Examples
- As a sports fanatic, he schedules his weekends around games.
- The bar is always full of sports fanatics during playoffs.
technology fanatic
1/tɛknˈɑləd͡ʒi fənˈætɪk/
fixed phrase
person obsessed with new tech
Someone who loves technology very much.
Examples
- As a technology fanatic, she preorders the latest phone every year.
- Technology fanatics lined up outside the store on launch day.